Combined overflow



(No Model.)

- F. A. WELLS.

COMBINED OVERFLOW, SUPPLY, AND WASTE FOR TUBS. No. 380,873. PatentedApr. 3, 1888.

r g A2 I a H A! I \8 l l I a F 5 1 2 J1 i E UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. 'WELLS, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED OVERFLOW, SUPPLY, AND WASTE FOR TUBS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,373, dated April 3,1888.

Application filed November 26, 1886. Renewed November 18, 1887. SerialNo. 255,457. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. WELLs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Allegheny City, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCombined Overflow, Supply,.and Waste for Tubs, which are fully set forthin the following specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part thereof, wherein- Figurel isaperspective of abath-tub, showing the supply, waste, and overflow fitting in verticalsection. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the supply, waste, and overflowfitting. Fig. 3 is a section through X X on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectionthrough Y Y on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of thepart of the fitting attached to the tub, of slightly different formfromthat shown in Fig. 1.

A is the tub. V

A and A are two parts which together C0111- prise the supply, waste, andoverflow fitting, and include the passages and chambers B, C, D, and E.

B is a well or pocket communicating with the bottom of the tub.

G is a passage which leads out of the well B and extends upward to theheight at which the water is designed to be limited in the tub.

D is a continuation of said passage leading down from the highest pointof the passage 0 and enteringthe lower portion, E, of the wastepassage.The upper portion, E, of the wastepassage protrudes upward from thebottom of the well B and terminates, preferably, even with the bottom ofthe tub, and a single strainer, F, having the central depressed portion,F, is made to screen the entrance both to the well B and thewaste-passage E. The central depressed portion, F, is made to receivethe stopper H, in the usual manner. It is sometimes found moreconvenient to make the upper portion, E, of the waste-passage of aseparate piece of pipe screwed into the lower 5 portion, as shown inFig. 5, and to form the strainer integral therewith, for a purposehereinafter explained.

G is the supply-pipe, G and G being the hot and cold water cockscontrolling said sup- P y- When the stopper is in the seat closing themouth of the waste-passage, the supply-cocks being opened, the waterenters the tub through the portion 0 of the overflow. When the tub isfilled to the height of the partition a between the passages O and D,the part 0 of the overflow is also filled with a column of clear water,and such column forms a complete trap against the entrance of sewer gasfrom the waste-pipe. The overflow being thus origi- 6o nally chargedwith pure water from the sup ply-pipe cannot receive any water from thetub, with which it has communication only at the bottom, and any excessof supply will be received first by the overflow, through which it willpass directly to the waste-pipe without passing into the tub. From thisit results that none of the suds or scum or other impurities from thebath will ever enter the overflow.

When the tub is to be emptied, the stopper 0 H, being lifted, allows thewater from the tub to pass directly into the waste-passage and lowersthe level of water in the tub, and so causes the water to fall in thepassage 0; but its only outlet is through the well B,up through theouter portion of the strainer F, and thence down with the water from thetub into the Waste-passage. There will thus be an upward current of purewater through the outer portion of the strainer F coming from the pipe 0So while the tub is emptying through the waste. This makes it impossiblefor any filth or sediment to be lodged upon the portion of the strainerwhich covers the entrance to the well B, and of course prevents any foulwater from 8 5 the tub ever entering the well and contaminating thesupply. Furthermore, the only escape from the well being upward, it cannever be emptied in the ordinary operation of the device, and thereforealways serves as a trap against the return of sewer-gas from thewastepipe. Atrap may also be provided in the passage D, as at D, as anadditional precaution. This fitting is designed to be adapted to beconnected with any tub or basin and to be secured with the pipes leadingtherefrom in any desired direction, and for that purpose it has the endwhich is to be secured to. the tub provided with'the flange A, which mayhave a number of bolt-holes, a, so that it may be turned into anydesired position and secured to a corresponding flange about theaperture in the tub; but when the strainer is made integral with thepart IE it serves to clamp the fitting to the tub and dispense with thebolts. It is also designed to be made of case-iron andinteriorly'enameled, and for convenience in so constructing it, as wellas for cheapness and ease in repairing, it is made in two principalpieces, A and A. The part A contains the well B and the waste-passage EE. It has the receiving and discharge openings of the overflow both onone side, and at that side it is provided with the flat boss or flange Aembracing both said openings. The part A comprises the stand-pipe A andthe horizontal branches A A and the supply-pipe connection A, and bymeans of the partition a is made to contain the two passages O and D ofthe overflow, said passages being continued, respectively, through thehorizontal branches A and A. Said branches are at the end united andencircled by the flange A, which matches and faces the'flange A of thepart A, so that the two parts may be easily secured together with thereceiving and discharge apertures of thelatter coinciding, respectively,with the branches A and A of the former, and any packing necessary tomake the said junction water-tight may be bound between the saidflat-faced flanges.

The upper end of the stand-pipe is designed to be connected to anyconvenient ventilatingflue to carry ofi any gas which may enter from thesewer. This also prevents the overflow from siphoning out the contentsof the tub.

The bath-tub with which I have shown this fitting connected is of theform which I prefer, being provided with a niche or recess, a, at thebottom of which is the opening for the attachment of the fitting.

The peculiarity and advantage of this structure are that the supply isnot admitted through the waste-pipe, where there is usually adhering tothe walls more or less of the filth which forms thescum on the surfaceof the bath, and is therefore last to pass out, but is admitted throughthe overflow, in which, by reason of its special construction, as aboveexplained, there is never any other than pure water. In secret waste andoverflow devices heretofore used, where the supply is admitted throughthe same fitting, there has been a considerable portion of thewaste-duct intervening between the supply-aperture and the tub, and thefirst charge of the water was, therefore, usually fouled by the washingsfrom the sides of that portion of the passage, whereas in my device thewaste from the tub can never enter the overflow through which the supplycomes,and, as above explained, cannot even soil the strainer over theentrance to the well B.

I claim 1. In combination with a tub and the wastepassage leadingdirectly therefrom, an overflow-d not which opens directly into the tuband is wholly distinct from the waste-passage and the supply pipeleading into said overflow-duct, substantially as set forth- 2. Incombination with a tub and its wastepassage,an overflow-duct which opensdirectly into the tub at the bottom of the latter and is wholly distinctfrom the waste-passage, and which extends upward and then downward, andthe supply-pipe opening into the overflowpassage between the tub and thedownwardlyextending part of the overflow-passage, substantially as setforth.

3. In combination with a tub, the well B, communicating with the tub atthe bottom of the latter, the overflow leading from said well upward andthen downward in order to discharge, and the supply-pipe entering theoverflow between the well and the portion which leads downward,substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a tub, the well B, communicating with the tub atthe bottom of the latter, the waste-pipe protruding through the well tothe level of the tub-bottom and not communicating with the well, theoverflow leading fromsaid well upward and then downward and discharginginto the-waste-passage, and the supply-pipe entering the overflowbetween the well and the portion which leads downward, substantially asset forth.

5. In combination with the tub,the overflowpassage having its mouthencircling the mouth of the waste-passage and leading thence upwardbefore discharging downward, the supply-pipe entering theoverflow-passage, and the strainer covering said overflow-passage mouth,whereby the overflow current constantly washes the strainer with clearwater while wastage is progressing and leaves it clean for the entranceof thesupply, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the tub, the overflow leading from the bottom ofthe tub upward and then downward in order to discharge and thewaste-pipe opening into the tub immediately adjacent to the overflow,whereby the clean water from the overflow washes over directly into thewaste, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with the tub, the overflowleading from the bottom ofthe tub upward and then downward in order to discharge, the waste-pipeopening into the tub immediately adjacent to the overflow, and thesupply-pipe leading into the overflow between the tub and the portionwhich leads downward, whereby water from the supply-current may bepassed through the overflow and directly out into the waste and made toflush the mouth of the waste-pipe, substantially as set forth.

8. The part A, having the well and the waste-passage, and having lateralapertures leading, one from the well and one from the waste-passage,both on the same side, and flanged in the same plane, in combinationwith the part A", having the two passages of the overflow ductterminating laterally in hand, in the presence of two witnesses, atAllethe same direction and corresponding in posigheny, Pennsylvania,this 18th day of Novemtion to the two apertures in the part A, and her,A. D. 1886.

provided with a transverse flange encircling FRANK A. WELLS. 5 both saidterminal mouths, substantially as set Attest:

forth. E. L. DAWES,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my I FRANCIS J. TORRANOE.

